BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MR LI, YIJIE
In November 2019 Mr Li was elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Mr. Li is the Chairman of the Board of Lite Smooth Investment Limited. Mr. Li has been the President of Guangdong Carriton Real Estate Co., Ltd. since 2001, which is focused on real estate development and has total assets of RMB 5 billion.
MR BRIAN THORNTON – B.Ec F(Fin)
Managing Director – Appointed 1 January 2023
Brian Thornton has a diverse background covering both the public and private sectors, with over 30 years’ experience in the exploration and minerals sector in both Australia, the Asia Pacific and North Asia. He has been engaged by some of Australia’s largest and most respected exploration and mining companies on a range of corporate affairs roles, including corporate and government relations, institutional and broker engagement, capital raisings, IPOs, Mergers & Acquisitions, proxy campaigns, research functions and investor relations.
He is the former Executive Chairman of Xanadu Mines Limited (ASX: XAM) which he founded in 2004. Xanadu is a pioneering copper exploration company in Mongolia and listed on the ASX in December 2010 with a market capitalisation of more than A$100m. Today the company remains the leading listed Australian minerals exploration company and developer in Mongolia. He stepped down as Chairman in 2013 and from the Board of Xanadu in 2014 and remains a significant shareholder and active investor in Mongolia.
Brian is also the Director and sole shareholder of Gel Resources Pty Ltd, an unlisted Western Australian gold explorer and producer in joint venture on the Trouser Legs project with Hawthorn at Pinjin in Western Australia. Gel has a 30% equity interest in the Joint Venture and has been involved in exploration in the SLTZ in its own right and with Hawthorn for almost 20 years.
Brian Thornton is also the Honorary Consul for Mongolia in New South Wales having been appointed in December 2020.
MR JOSEPH CORRIGAN – Appointed 24 November 2022
An experienced businessman and director, Mr. Corrigan holds directorships and key investments in the agricultural and aerospace industries.
He is a director of Kooba Pty Ltd, an Agribusiness focusing on cotton and almond production as well as water rights.
Mr Corrigan is also the Executive Chairman of Australian Rainforest Honey Pty Ltd, an apiary business focused on crop pollination, honey production, and international honey sales and distribution.
MR LIU, ZHENSHENG
Non-Executive Director- Appointed 9 December 2015; elected as a Director 2019 AGM
Mr Liu, is a Geological professor-level senior engineer and a mineral processing senior engineer. He has worked on prospecting, exploration, mine construction, mine production and operation management, mining investment for around 40 years.
He has held the following significant positions:
- Investment Director of a listed company (2018 to present) ;
- Director and General Manager of Guangdong Rising Mineral Resources Investment and Development Co., Ltd (2016-2018) ;
- Director and Vice General Manager of Guangdong Rising Mineral Resources Investment and Development Co., Ltd. (2014-2016);
- Director, General Manager, and Chief Engineer of Guangdong Jinding Gold Co., Ltd (2010-2014);
- Geological Section Vice Chief, Assistant to Mine director, vice mine director, director of Hetai Gold Mine in Gaoyao of Guangdong（1989-2010）;
- Technician, Mining Technical Manager in team 719 of Guangdong Geological and Mineral Bureau（1983-1989）;
In addition, he has served as a member of the Membership Committee of the Shanghai Gold Exchange and the National Technical Committee on Gold of Standardization Administration of China. He has also served as a member of Senior Engineer (professor level) Commission on Accrediting of Guangdong Province.
MR TONY AMATO
Company Secretary & Chief Financial Officer
After heading the small business division at a boutique accounting practice for 8 years, Tony has served as Hawthorn’s CFO since April of 2008.
In addition to his CFO responsibilities, he oversaw the accounting & administration of the successful open cut mining operations at Anglo Saxon.
Tony was appointed Company Secretary 1 April 2024.
Tony has held CFO, Company Secretarial and senior accounting roles within a number of industries including mining & exploration, financial services, childcare and the hospitality sector where his company provides CFO, Secretarial, consulting and administration support services.
Listed appointments include Nido Childcare Limited (ASX: NDO), Incannex Healthcare Limited (ASX: IHL), Contango Asset Management Limited (ASX: CGA), Contango MicroCap Limited (CTN), Contango Income Generator (CIE) and Contango Global Growth (CQG).